On This Day, August 31: Family Theater and Judy Canova
Also featured: Eyes Aloft.
August 31 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 31 across inspirational moral drama, hillbilly musical comedy, Cold War political thrillers, and wartime Pacific Coast defense docudramas, Barry Sullivan and Maureen O'Sullivan in Family Theater (1955), Judy Canova and Mel Blanc on The Judy Canova Show for Colgate (1943, 1946), Tyrone Power in Freedom, U.S.A. (1952), and the U.S. Army Air Forces' Eyes Aloft (1942, 1943):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Big One with Barry Sullivan and Maureen O'Sullivan" | Mutual (WOR) 1955-08-31 9:05 PM EDT |
Sustaining Family Rosary Drama |
Barry Sullivan, O'Sullivan | Father Patrick Peyton | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Family", "Family Theater", "Mutual"] |
A troubled commercial fisherman risks his boat and savings pursuing a legendary giant marlin to prove his worth to his family. |
| "Getting the Pig Back to Rancho Canova with Judy Canova (Colgate)" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-31 8:30 PM EWT |
Colgate-Palmolive Colgate Dental / Halo |
Judy Canova, Mel Blanc | Gordon Jenkins Orch. | ["Comedy", "Hillbilly", "Music", "Judy Canova", "Colgate"] |
Judy wreaks havoc across Hollywood trying to transport an escaped prize pig back to her ranch in an open convertible. |
| "Just Back from Cactus Junction with Judy Canova (Colgate)" | NBC (WEAF) 1946-08-31 10:00 PM EDT |
Colgate-Palmolive Colgate Dental / Palm. |
Judy Canova, Gordon | Sportsmen Quartet | ["Comedy", "Hillbilly", "Music", "Judy Canova", "Colgate"] |
Judy returns from a family reunion in Cactus Junction loaded down with eccentric country souvenirs and farm animals. |
| "Espionage and the Missing Map Piece with Tyrone Power" | Ziv Syndication 1952-08-31 |
Sustaining Cold War Political Drama |
Tyrone Power, Jerome | Anton M. Leader (Director) | ["Drama", "Politics", "Espionage", "Tyrone Power", "ZIV"] |
U.S. Senator Dean Edwards exposes a ring of foreign intelligence operatives attempting to reconstruct a classified military radar map. |
| "Coastal Air Warning Spotters on Duty with Fourth Fighter Command" | NBC Pacific 1942-08-31 9:00 PM PWT |
U.S. Army Air Forces IV Fighter Command |
Hollywood Repertory | True Boardman (Producer) | ["Docudrama", "WWII", "Aviation", "Eyes Aloft", "NBC Pacific"] |
Volunteer civilian aircraft spotters stationed along the Pacific coast identify unidentified enemy aircraft formations in fog. |
| "The Night Watch at Peak Lookout with Fourth Fighter Command" | NBC Pacific 1943-08-31 9:00 PM PWT |
U.S. Army Air Forces IV Fighter Command |
Hollywood Repertory | True Boardman (Producer) | ["Docudrama", "WWII", "Aviation", "Eyes Aloft", "NBC Pacific"] |
Civilian mountain-top lookouts brave blizzard conditions to report emergency radar blips and guide lost Allied bombers home safely. |